The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The trial of detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others in the barge-mounted power plant case continued for the third day on Sunday at a special court here with the complainant testifying before the judge as the first witness.

Judge Mohammad Feroz Alam set May 26 as the next date of hearing of the case.

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina was brought to the Court from the nearby makeshift sub-jail at the Sangsad Bhaban area.

Another accused, former Energy Secretary Dr Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, now detained in Dhaka Central Jail, was also produced in the court to face the trial under the Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

Complainant of the case AMM Sabbir Hassan, a Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), denied the suggestions of the defence counsel that he lodged the case under the instruction or pressure of an interested powerful quarter or to win prize by filing the case, while he was cross-examined.

The ACC charge-sheet alleged that Hasina had accepted about Taka 3 crore in exchange for the contracts.

The ACC lodged the case with Tejgaon Thana on September 2 last year, accusing Sheikh Hasina, Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and five others of giving undue favour by misusing power to Wartsila Power Development Limited for installing a barge-mounted power plant in Khulna by depriving the lowest bidder, New England Power Company.

In the complaint, it was alleged that Sheikh Hasina took Taka 3 crore as kickbacks through eight pay orders for Bangabandhu Memorial Trust from Wartsila Power Development Limited to approve its proposal for installing the plant while Awami League was in power from 1996 to 2001.

Summit Group and United Group as the local agents took part in the bid on behalf of Wartsila Power Development Limited.

The accused also included former chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) Nooruddin Mahmud Kamal, Chairman of Summit Group Mohammad Aziz Khan and Director Mohammad Farid Khan, Chairman of United Group Hasan Mahmud Raza and Director Abul Kalam Azad.

Later, curator of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum Syed Siddiqur Rahman was made a co-accused in the charge-sheet.

Hasina was arrested from her residence on July 16 last year on extortion charges.

Other accused persons are absconding.